Summer 1912

During the summer of the same year Antonio visited, Lovino somehow managed to get a girlfriend. Although most of the girls in the village often flocked towards Feliciano, this one had the courage to approach Lovino. Caterina decided to ask Lovino on a date simply because she felt sorry for him. She was hoping he would turn her down, just like the girls who had asked before her. Lovino thought Caterina looked particularly pretty, but had no romantic feelings towards her. He had no romantic feelings towards any of the women in the village. Feliciano had said that maybe he was still looking for 'the one,' whatever that meant. Lovino was starting to think otherwise. This was why he agreed to go on a date, to see if he could have any romantic feelings towards anyone.

Many dates later, Lovino found himself sat under moonlight with a picnic basket and some wine Caterina had brought. And Caterina was suddenly leaning in. Lovino didn't know why he felt like he wanted to run away, or at least lean away from the gesture. Surely he should be thrilled. A pretty girl thought they would kiss. He didn't think they would at all. But here they were.

She closed the gap. It was forced and had no passion behind it. Lovino felt like it was wrong. He pulled away quickly and wiped his mouth. She blinked at his sudden movement.

"What's wrong?"

Lovino looked down at his wine glass. "It was like kissing my brother." He grumbled.

Caterina's face shifted from surprise, to realisation, and eventually settled on disgust.

"Oh. My. God. Are you one of those queer people?" She backed away from him. "I can't believe I let you get close to me." She stood up. Lovino followed suit.

"No, I'm not. I—" He was lying to himself. The kiss helped him realise the worse.

"Get away from me you unnatural freak!" She ran back to the village. The moonlight's soft romantic glow seemed to mock Lovino as he stood alone. After a few moments of mixed emotions he stooped to pick up the forgotten picnic basket. He also noticed the wine. Taking a swig, he started to amble back towards the village. She had helped him figure out his sexuality, the least he could do was return the basket.

Her mother answered the door. Lovino could hear Caterina sobbing in the next room.

"Here's your—" She snatched the basket from his hand before he could finish his sentence.

Lovino decided he would try to fix things. "I'm sorry, I—" She interrupted him again, but this time by pointing an accusing finger and driving him into the middle of the street.

"You stay away from my daughter you ungodly scum." A few of the neighbours poked their heads out their doors and windows to eavesdrop on the one-sided conversation. "Your kind is not welcome here. Go back to your hill, monster." Lovino obediently turned on his heel and walked quickly away. The neighbours who couldn't mind their own business returned to their daily lives, except a few other housewives who skipped over to Caterina's mother to hear the latest gossip. Great, now the whole village would know. Lovino kept his eyes on the road, trying to distract himself from what had just happened, until his head bumped into something. He looked up to make out the figure in the inky blackness.

"Antonio? Uh... I mean Grandpa's friend." Lovino tried to play it off like he hadn't cared much for Antonio's sudden appearance. "When did you get here?" His voice was thick due to the last words he had heard spoken to him.

"I never left."

Lovino frowned. "What? I never saw you around." It had been at least a month.

"I was working too much to visit. I saw everything that happened just now. Are you okay?" Despite the situation Antonio looked kind of content with the world.

"I'm fine." Lovino glared at a stone on the ground just beside his foot. "I was just planning on going home and staying in my room forever, since they probably would not let me back into the village." He kicked the stone hard and it bounced away.

"And are you okay with that?" Antonio sounded genuinely concerned.

"Yeah, who needs those bastards."

"You're not okay with it, are you?"

Lovino looked up at these last words. How had Antonio known? He searched the Spaniard's face for answers. Antonio placed a hand on Lovino's shoulder, a gesture which made Lovino breath quicken.

"Don't worry, I'll sort it out." And with that, he walked away, leaving Lovino yet again alone in the moonlight. It's mellow glow did not seem to mock him any more though.

The next morning Antonio knew he needed to do something about the Church. Word of Lovino's homosexuality had spread throughout the village like a virus. Antonio had no doubt the Church already knew about it. The Church was the heart and soul of the village and if it opposed something, the rest of the village would agree with its decision. Antonio was looking for a job, since the old man he was looking after had passed away a few nights ago. The old man was in fact the Priest of the Church, which was quite convenient on Antonio's part. He did feel sorry for the man, but he didn't talk much and when he did it was usually in a different language. Antonio had managed to get into the Church when nobody was there. That meant the women who ran the Church, the three Nuns, were either out or in the back room. He was about to open the back door, when he heard voices.

"Who'd have thought… Roma's grandson." His hand hesitated next to the door knob.

"I know. It's a shame, really. He seemed to have potential, singing wise."

"It's not like he's dead." A third voice piped up.

"This is really bad for the village. We need to do something about this."

"Aren't they, the homosexuals," The voice paused. "Aren't they, you know..."

"They are possessed, Sister. We must pray for him."

"Surely praying isn't enough at this time."

"You're right. We must do more, for the sake of this village."

"You mean?"

"That's right."

"Exorcism."

Antonio knocked loudly on the door. All three women were originally sat around a table but now stood at the entrance of Antonio.

"Hello, ladies." They all bowed their heads to Antonio in a quick greeting.

"I have not seen you around the village. Where do you come from?" The oldest of the trio, an old bat too proud to retire.

"Spain, originally. But I toured Europe as a singer with Roma Vargas. I have come to serve God."

The Nuns seemed to be impressed. "Well you have come to the right place."

Antonio nodded. "I hear your old Priest died recently?"

"God bless him, yes. He died a few days ago, actually."

"Well you see, I am his—"

"God bless him."

"Yes, God bless him, his nephew. And I recently received a letter saying that if he were to die—"

"God bless him."

"God bless him, yeah. Were to die sometime soon, he would like me to look after the Church in his honour." Antonio didn't really know where he was going with this but decided to roll with it anyway. The Nuns exchanged looks.

"We will think it over. You may leave for now."

Antonio exited the room and sat down next to the Alter. He really didn't know what he was doing. Exorcism, though. Antonio was glad he never left. Exorcism could often result in torture, or worse, death. He breath came out shaky at the thought. The words 'Lovino' and 'death' should not be in the same sentence. Antonio couldn't imagine a world without Lovino, even though they had spoken only twice. About half an hour later, the youngest of the Nuns walked out of the back room. She was startled at the appearance of Antonio.

"I thought you had left."

Antonio stood up and sauntered over to her. "I have no where to go."

"You mean, you don't have a home?"

"I told you, I was touring Europe before this." He moved closer so their skin was touching. Her breath quickened and her cheeks turned crimson. He stared pleadingly into her eyes. "Please. This is all I have left of my Uncle."

A pause, she was lost in his eyes. "I'll see what I can do." She squeaked and ran back to the others.

The following Sunday, Lovino had gathered enough courage to come to Church. That and he didn't want Feliciano and Grandpa asking endless questions. To his surprise, just before the service started he was pulled round the corner into the Church gardens. It was Antonio, in the Priest's clothes.

"Wha—"

"Ssh. We should not be seen together. The Nuns want to exorcise you."

"Exorcise?"

"They think you are possessed by a demon. It's bullshit, I know." He smiled suddenly. "Don't worry, I've got something planned."

They entered the Church at different times. The Vargas' sat together, with Feliciano in the middle. Roma was delighted Antonio decided to become the Priest, Lovino was infatuated with Antonio's words and Feliciano decided to make a game out of counting how many times Antonio glanced over at them. So far he had counted to 26. During one of the hymns, the oldest Nun came to Roma, requesting that he and his grandsons would stay behind after the sermon. Roma agreed. When everybody started to shuffle out of the Church, Lovino and Feliciano tried to do the same. Roma compelled them to stay, so they did. The Church was empty besides the Nuns, the Vargas' and Antonio. They all stood in the aisle, the two trios staring at each other with Antonio in the middle.

"So what's all this about?" Roma inquired in a lighthearted tone.

"Mr. Vargas," The eldest started. "We have reason to believe your grandson is homosexual."

Roma was taken aback. "Feli may look like a girl, but that doesn't mean he's homosexual."

"No, we mean the other one, Lovino."

Roma looked questioningly at his eldest grandson, who just shrugged and looked at his feet. "It's true."

Roma sighed and ruffled Lovino's hair. "I already knew, Lovi."

"And you're okay with this? He could be housing a demon!" The youngest argued.

"He is still my grandson." Roma stared coldly back at the Nuns. Lovino suppressed a pleased smile and continued to stare at the floor.

"Even so, he should be exorcised."

"You will not exorcise my grandson."

"It is the will of God." The oldest Nun was as resilient as Roma. Roma couldn't argue with that statement. Heavy silence. Antonio couldn't bear it.

"If you are to exorcise Lovino, you must exorcise me too, for I am the same."

The Nuns looked shocked. The youngest's mouth dropped open. Antonio looked over to Feliciano and he nodded.

"I am too." Feliciano added. Roma looked from Antonio to Feliciano and understood. Lovino was bewildered.

"Me too. So if you are to exorcise my grandsons and my friend, you must exorcise me too."

The Nuns were stunned. They all went to bed that night with no exorcisms being practised.

To be continued...